Vacuum adiabatic body and refrigerator

ABSTRACT

Provided is a vacuum adiabatic body. The vacuum adiabatic body includes an alternating current line through which AC current flows as a driving source, a direct current line through which direct current flows as a driving source, and a signal line through which a control signal flows as electric lines configured to electrically connect the first space to the second space. Thus, the number of lines passing through the vacuum adiabatic body may be reduced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/980,288 filed Sep. 11, 2020, which is a U.S.National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT Application No.PCT/KR2019/007753, filed Jun. 26, 2019, which claims priority to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2018-0074202, filed Jun. 27, 2018, whoseentire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum adiabatic body and arefrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A vacuum adiabatic body is a product for suppressing heat transfer byvacuumizing the interior of a body thereof. The vacuum adiabatic bodymay reduce heat transfer by convection and conduction, and hence isapplied to heating apparatuses and refrigerating apparatuses. In atypical adiabatic method applied to a refrigerator, although it isdifferently applied in refrigeration and freezing, a foam urethaneadiabatic wall having a thickness of about 30 mm or more is generallyprovided. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is thereforereduced.

In order to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, there is anattempt to apply a vacuum adiabatic body to the refrigerator.

First, Korean Patent No. 10-0343719 (Cited Document 1) of the presentapplicant has been disclosed. According to Reference Document 1, thereis disclosed a method in which a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared andthen built in walls of a refrigerator, and the exterior of the vacuumadiabatic panel is finished with a separate molding as Styrofoam.According to the method, additional foaming is not required, and theadiabatic performance of the refrigerator is improved. However,fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method is complicated.

As another example, a technique of providing walls using a vacuumadiabatic material and additionally providing adiabatic walls using afoam filling material has been disclosed in Korean Patent PublicationNo. 10-2015-0012712 (Cited Document 2). According to Reference Document2, fabrication cost is increased, and a fabrication method iscomplicated.

As further another example, there is an attempt to fabricate all wallsof a refrigerator using a vacuum adiabatic body that is a singleproduct. For example, a technique of providing an adiabatic structure ofa refrigerator to be in a vacuum state has been disclosed in U.S. PatentLaid-Open Publication No. US20040226956A1 (Reference Document 3).However, it is difficult to obtain a practical level of an adiabaticeffect by providing a wall of the refrigerator with sufficient vacuum.In detail, there are limitations that it is difficult to prevent a heattransfer phenomenon at a contact portion between an outer case and aninner case having different temperatures, it is difficult to maintain astable vacuum state, and it is difficult to prevent deformation of acase due to a negative pressure of the vacuum state. Due to theselimitations, the technology disclosed in Reference Document 3 is limitedto a cryogenic refrigerator, and does not provide a level of technologyapplicable to general households.

Alternatively, the present applicant has applied for Korean PatentPublication No. 10-2017-0016187 (Cited Document 4) that discloses avacuum adiabatic body and a refrigerator. The present technologyproposes a refrigerator in which both a main body and a door areprovided with a vacuum adiabatic body.

In a case of manufacturing a refrigerator, a control line forcontrolling various components such as a sensor and a driving unit foroperating the refrigerator connects the inside and outside of therefrigerator to each other. For this, in the refrigerator manufacturedaccording to the related art, an electric line may be disposed in a foamwall. Since the foam wall completely fills a space between the electriclines, the refrigerator may operate without deteriorating adiabaticefficiency.

However, when the refrigerator is manufactured using the vacuumadiabatic body like Cited Document 4, it is difficult to place theelectric lines inside the vacuum adiabatic body because of thedifficulty in maintaining and manufacturing the vacuum performance. Whenthe electric lines are installed to pass through the vacuum adiabaticbody, the adiabatic performance of the vacuum adiabatic body may beaffected, and thus, it is not preferable. Since the number of linesconnected to the inside and outside of the refrigerator is about 40 forthe operation of the refrigerator, the increase in number ofthrough-parts of the vacuum adiabatic body or the increase in size ofeach of the through-parts increases deterioration of the adiabaticefficiency. Furthermore, since the number of lines increases more andmore due to the refinement of the size of the refrigerator, there is agreat difficulty in installing the electric lines connecting the insideand outside of the refrigerator to which the vacuum adiabatic body isapplied.

The inventor of the present invention has found that there is KoreanPatent Registration No. 10-1316023 (Cited Document 5), titled linecombination module and line structure using the same, which disclosuresa feature in which the inside and outside of the refrigerator areconnected to each other through power line communication, through theconduction of the repeated research. According to Cited Document 5, anAC power line communication method is used to supply alternating currentby using two electric lines to various loads placed in the refrigeratorand perform the power line communication using the two electric lines.As a result, only the two electric lines may pass through the foam wall.

According to Cited Document 5, the number of electric lines passingthrough a wall of the refrigerator may be reduced to two.

Despite this advantage, the technology disclosed in Cited Document 5 isdifficult to apply to the refrigerator due to the following limitations.First, there is a limitation that a rectifying device accompanied with aswitching operation has to be provided in the inside of the refrigeratorto perform DC driving of the load, and the energy consumption efficiencyof the refrigerator is significantly lowered due to the heat of therectifying device. Second, to perform the power line communication, ahigh-frequency filter and an A/D converter for receiving power linesignals are required for each of individual loads in the refrigerator,and a D/A inverter for transmitting power line signals is required, andthus, a large amount of energy is lost. Third, there is a limitationthat high-frequency components used in communication are likely to belost due to a difference in level between a low-frequency and ahigh-frequency when the power line communication is performed. Fourth,since a microcomputer of the door, a main body substrate, and individualmicrocomputers having a large load carry out transmission and receptionindividually by using two AC lines, it takes a lot of time to writeprogram, and there is a great fear of interference between signalstransmitted and received between the nodes. Fifth, there is a limitationthat repairing is impossible at all if the substrate and the parts areplaced inside the foam wall.

Embodiments provide a vacuum adiabatic body, in which the number ofelectric lines connecting the inside and outside of the vacuum adiabaticbody to each other to air-condition an internal space is minimized and,and a refrigerator.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body, in which a generationamount of heat within a refrigerator is minimized, and power consumptionfor transmitting and receiving signals is minimized, and a refrigerator.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which an error doesnot occur in transmitting and receiving signals between a controller anda load, and a refrigerator.

In one embodiment, a vacuum adiabatic body includes: an alternatingcurrent line through which AC current flows as a driving source; adirect current line through which direct current flows as a drivingsource; and a signal line through which a control signal flows aselectric lines configured to electrically connect the first space to thesecond space. Thus, the number of lines passing through the vacuumadiabatic body may be reduced.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes a connection lineconfigured to connect to the first controller to the second controller,wherein the connection line includes: a first connection line disposedin the first space; a second connection line disposed in the secondspace; and a third connection line disposed to pass through a thirdspace and the door so as to connect the first space to the second spacewithout directly passing through the third space. According to theembodiment, the total number and size of electric lines passing throughthe vacuum adiabatic body may be significantly reduced whilesufficiently performing a control of the refrigerator.

In further another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a main bodyconfigured to provide an internal space in which storage goods arestored; a door opened so that an external space selectively communicateswith the internal space; a heat generation part disposed in the internalspace;

a power control part disposed in the external space; and six linesconfigured to connect the external space to the internal space so as tosupply power. The minimum number of lines may pass through the vacuumadiabatic body so that the refrigerator stably operates, and adiabaticreliability of the vacuum adiabatic body is secured.

A heat resistance unit that resists heat transfer between the platemembers providing an outer wall of the vacuum adiabatic body may includea conductive resistance sheet that resists conduction of heattransferred along a wall of the vacuum space part and may furtherinclude a side frame coupled to the conductive resistance sheet.

Also, the heat resistance unit may include at least one radiationresistance sheet that is provided in a plate shape within the vacuumspace part or may include a porous material that resists radiation heattransfer between the second plate member and the first plate memberwithin the vacuum space part.

According to the embodiments, the number of electric lines connectingthe inside and outside of the vacuum insulator may be optimized so thatstable driving of the refrigerator is obtained while reducing the sizeof the through-part and the number of through-parts of the vacuumadiabatic body.

According to the embodiments, the separate heat generation source in thespace within the refrigerator may be removed to improve the energyefficiency of the refrigerator.

According to the embodiments, the stability of the transmission andreception of the signals between the controller and the load may besecured to prevent the refrigerator from being broken down.

According to the embodiments, since the commercial load driven by thedirect current is applied to the refrigerator to which the vacuumadiabatic body is applied as it is, the manufacturing cost of therefrigerator to which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied may bereduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used in amain body and a door of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating various embodiments of an internalconfiguration of a vacuum space part.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating various embodiments of conductiveresistance sheets and peripheral portions thereof.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a variation in adiabatic performance anda variation in gas conductivity according to a vacuum pressure byapplying a simulation.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating results obtained by comparing a vacuumpressure with gas conductivity.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an edge of the vacuumadiabatic body.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic front views of a main body in a virtualstate in which an inner surface part is spread.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a contact part in a state in whichthe main body is closed by the door.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact part of a mainbody and a door according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial cutaway perspective views of an innersurface part, wherein FIG. 13 illustrates in a state in which couplingis completed, and FIG. 14 illustrates a coupling process.

FIG. 15 is a view for sequentially explaining coupling of a sealingframe when the sealing frame is provided as two members according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views illustrating one end portion of the sealingframe, wherein FIG. 16 illustrates a state before a door hinge isinstalled, and FIG. 17 illustrates a state in which the door hinge isinstalled.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining an effect of the sealing frameaccording to an embodiment in comparison with the technique according tothe related art, wherein FIG. 18(a) is a cross-sectional view of acontact part of a main body-side vacuum adiabatic body and a dooraccording to an embodiment, and FIG. 18(b) is a cross-sectional view ofa main body and a door according to the related art.

FIGS. 19 to 24 are views illustrating various embodiments in which thesealing frame is installed.

FIG. 25 is a view observing an upper right side of the main body-sideadiabatic body when viewed from a front side.

FIGS. 26 and 27 are cross-sectional views of an edge portion of thevacuum adiabatic body in a state in which a lamp is installed, whereinFIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a portion through which an electricline of the lamp does not pass, and FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view ofa portion through the electric line of the lamp pass.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of a peripheral portion of acomponent.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A′ andB-B′.

FIG. 31 is a view observing a portion of an upper portion of therefrigerator when viewed from a front side.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view illustrating a top surface of therefrigerator when viewed from the outside.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an upper end portion ofthe refrigerator.

FIG. 34 is a view for explaining a control of the refrigerator.

FIG. 35 is a view for explaining an overall control of the refrigeratorin detail with respect to six lines.

FIG. 36 is a view illustrating installed positions of a main controllerand an auxiliary controller.

FIG. 37 is a view for explaining connection between the main controllerand the auxiliary controller when a pipeline is used.

FIGS. 38 to 40 are views for comparing and explaining a configuration ofcontrol of the refrigerator, wherein FIG. 38 is a view of a case inwhich a plurality of lines, e.g., about 40 lines are inserted into therefrigerator in the main controller according to the related art, FIG.39 is a view of a case in which six lines pass through the pipeline, andFIG. 40 is a view of a case in which the six lines pass through a gappart between the sealing frame and an outer surface of the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein, and a person of ordinary skill in the art,who understands the spirit of the present invention, may readilyimplement other embodiments included within the scope of the sameconcept by adding, changing, deleting, and adding components; rather, itwill be understood that they are also included within the scope of thepresent invention.

Hereinafter, for description of embodiments, the drawings shown belowmay be displayed differently from the actual product, or exaggerated orsimple or detailed parts may be deleted, but this is intended tofacilitate understanding of the technical idea of the present invention.It should not be construed as limited. However, it will try to show theactual shape as much as possible.

The following embodiments may be applied to the description of anotherembodiment unless the other embodiment does not collide with each other,and some configurations of any one of the embodiments may be modified ina state in which only a specific portion is modified in anotherconfiguration may be applied.

In the following description, the vacuum pressure means any pressurestate lower than the atmospheric pressure. In addition, the expressionthat a vacuum degree of A is higher than that of B means that a vacuumpressure of A is lower than that of B.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the refrigerator 1 includes a main body 2 providedwith a cavity 9 capable of storing storage goods and a door 3 providedto open/close the main body 2. The door 3 may be rotatably or slidablymovably disposed to open/close the cavity 9. The cavity 9 may provide atleast one of a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment.

Parts constituting a freezing cycle in which cold air is supplied intothe cavity 9. In detail, the parts include a compressor 4 forcompressing a refrigerant, a condenser 5 for condensing the compressedrefrigerant, an expander 6 for expanding the condensed refrigerant, andan evaporator 7 for evaporating the expanded refrigerant to take heat.As a typical structure, a fan may be installed at a position adjacent tothe evaporator 7, and a fluid blown from the fan may pass through theevaporator 7 and then be blown into the cavity 9. A freezing load iscontrolled by adjusting the blowing amount and blowing direction by thefan, adjusting the amount of a circulated refrigerant, or adjusting thecompression rate of the compressor, so that it is possible to control arefrigerating space or a freezing space.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used inthe main body and the door of the refrigerator. In FIG. 2 , a mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body is illustrated in a state in which topand side walls are removed, and a door-side vacuum adiabatic body isillustrated in a state in which a portion of a front wall is removed. Inaddition, sections of portions at conductive resistance sheets areprovided are schematically illustrated for convenience of understanding.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the vacuum adiabatic body includes a first platemember 10 for providing a wall of a low-temperature space, a secondplate member 20 for providing a wall of a high-temperature space, avacuum space part 50 defined as an interval part between the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20. Also, the vacuum adiabatic body includesthe conductive resistance sheets 60 and 63 for preventing thermalconduction between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Asealing part 61 for sealing the first and second plate members 10 and 20is provided such that the vacuum space part 50 is in a sealing state.When the vacuum adiabatic body is applied to a refrigerating or heatingcabinet, the first plate member 10 may be referred to as an inner case,and the second plate member 20 may be referred to as an outer case. Amachine room 8 in which parts providing a freezing cycle areaccommodated is placed at a lower rear side of the main body-side vacuumadiabatic body, and an exhaust port 40 for forming a vacuum state byexhausting air in the vacuum space part 50 is provided at any one sideof the vacuum adiabatic body. In addition, a pipeline 64 passing throughthe vacuum space part 50 may be further installed so as to install adefrosting water line and electric lines.

The first plate member 10 may define at least one portion of a wall fora first space provided thereto. The second plate member 20 may define atleast one portion of a wall for a second space provided thereto. Thefirst space and the second space may be defined as spaces havingdifferent temperatures. Here, the wall for each space may serve as notonly a wall directly contacting the space but also a wall not contactingthe space. For example, the vacuum adiabatic body of the embodiment mayalso be applied to a product further having a separate wall contactingeach space.

Factors of heat transfer, which cause loss of the adiabatic effect ofthe vacuum adiabatic body, are thermal conduction between the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20, heat radiation between the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20, and gas conduction of the vacuum spacepart 50.

Hereinafter, a heat resistance unit provided to reduce adiabatic lossrelated to the factors of the heat transfer will be provided. Meanwhile,the vacuum adiabatic body and the refrigerator of the embodiment do notexclude that another adiabatic means is further provided to at least oneside of the vacuum adiabatic body. Therefore, an adiabatic means usingfoaming or the like may be further provided to another side of thevacuum adiabatic body.

The heat resistance unit may include a conductive resistance sheet thatresists conduction of heat transferred along a wall of a third space andmay further include a side frame coupled to the conductive resistancesheet. The conductive resistance sheet and the side frame will beclarified by the following description.

Also, the heat resistance unit may include at least one radiationresistance sheet that is provided in a plate shape within the thirdspace or may include a porous material that resists radiation heattransfer between the second plate member and the first plate memberwithin the third space. The radiation resistance sheet and the porousmaterial will be clarified by the following description.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating various embodiments of an internalconfiguration of the vacuum space part.

First referring to FIG. 3A, the vacuum space part 50 may be provided ina third space having a pressure different from that of each of the firstand second spaces, preferably, a vacuum state, thereby reducing anadiabatic loss. The third space may be provided at a temperature betweenthe temperature of the first space and the temperature of the secondspace. Since the third space is provided as a space in the vacuum state,the first and second plate members 10 and 20 receive a force contractingin a direction in which they approach each other due to a forcecorresponding to a pressure difference between the first and secondspaces. Therefore, the vacuum space part 50 may be deformed in adirection in which it is reduced. In this case, the adiabatic loss maybe caused due to an increase in amount of heat radiation, caused by thecontraction of the vacuum space part 50, and an increase in amount ofthermal conduction, caused by contact between the plate members 10 and20.

The supporting unit 30 may be provided to reduce deformation of thevacuum space part 50. The supporting unit 30 includes a bar 31. The bar31 may extend in a substantially vertical direction with respect to theplate members to support a distance between the first plate member andthe second plate member. A support plate 35 may be additionally providedon at least any one end of the bar 31. The support plate 35 may connectat least two or more bars 31 to each other to extend in a horizontaldirection with respect to the first and second plate members 10 and 20.The support plate 35 may be provided in a plate shape or may be providedin a lattice shape so that an area of the support plate contacting thefirst or second plate member 10 or 20 decreases, thereby reducing heattransfer. The bars 31 and the support plate 35 are fixed to each otherat at least one portion, to be inserted together between the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 contacts at leastone of the first and second plate members 10 and 20, thereby preventingdeformation of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Inaddition, based on the extending direction of the bars 31, a totalsectional area of the support plate 35 is provided to be greater thanthat of the bars 31, so that heat transferred through the bars 31 may bediffused through the support plate 35.

The supporting unit 30 may be made of a resin selected from PC, glassfiber PC, low outgassing PC, PPS, and LCP to obtain high compressivestrength, a low outgassing and water absorption rate, low thermalconductivity, high compressive strength at a high temperature, andsuperior processability.

A radiation resistance sheet 32 for reducing heat radiation between thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 through the vacuum space part50 will be described. The first and second plate members 10 and 20 maybe made of a stainless material capable of preventing corrosion andproviding a sufficient strength. The stainless material has a relativelyhigh emissivity of 0.16, and hence a large amount of radiation heat maybe transferred. In addition, the supporting unit 30 made of the resinhas a lower emissivity than the plate members, and is not entirelyprovided to inner surfaces of the first and second plate members 10 and20. Hence, the supporting unit 30 does not have great influence onradiation heat. Therefore, the radiation resistance sheet 32 may beprovided in a plate shape over a majority of the area of the vacuumspace part 50 so as to concentrate on reduction of radiation heattransferred between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Aproduct having a low emissivity may be preferably used as the materialof the radiation resistance sheet 32. In an embodiment, an aluminum foilhaving an emissivity of 0.02 may be used as the radiation resistancesheet 32. Also, since the transfer of radiation heat may not besufficiently blocked using one radiation resistance sheet, at least tworadiation resistance sheets 32 may be provided at a certain distance soas not to contact each other. Also, at least one radiation resistancesheet may be provided in a state in which it contacts the inner surfaceof the first or second plate member 10 or 20.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the distance between the plate members ismaintained by the supporting unit 30, and a porous material 33 may befilled in the vacuum space part 50. The porous material 33 may have ahigher emissivity than the stainless material of the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. However, since the porous material 33 is filledin the vacuum space part 50, the porous material 33 has a highefficiency for resisting the radiation heat transfer.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufacturedwithout the radiation resistance sheet 32.

Referring to FIG. 3C, the supporting unit 30 for maintaining the vacuumspace part 50 may not be provided. A porous material 333 may be providedto be surrounded by a film 34 instead of the supporting unit 30. Here,the porous material 33 may be provided in a state of being compressed sothat the interval of the vacuum space part is maintained. The film 34made of, for example, a PE material may be provided in a state in whicha hole is punched in the film 34.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufacturedwithout the supporting unit 30. That is to say, the porous material 33may perform the function of the radiation resistance sheet 32 and thefunction of the supporting unit 30 together.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating various embodiments of conductiveresistance sheets and peripheral parts thereof. Structures of theconductive resistance sheets are briefly illustrated in FIG. 2 , butwill be understood in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 4(a) may bepreferably applied to the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body.Specifically, the first and second plate members 10 and 20 are to besealed so as to vacuumize the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body. Inthis case, since the two plate members have different temperatures fromeach other, heat transfer may occur between the two plate members. Aconductive resistance sheet 60 is provided to prevent thermal conductionbetween two different kinds of plate members.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided with the sealing part61 at which both ends of the conductive resistance sheet 60 are sealedto defining at least one portion of the wall for the third space andmaintain the vacuum state. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may beprovided as a thin foil in unit of micrometer so as to reduce the amountof heat conducted along the wall for the third space. The sealing parts61 may be provided as welding parts. That is, the conductive resistancesheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be fused to each other. Inorder to cause a fusing action between the conductive resistance sheet60 and the plate members 10 and 20, the conductive resistance sheet 60and the plate members 10 and 20 may be made of the same material, and astainless material may be used as the material. The sealing parts 61 arenot limited to the welding parts, and may be provided through a processsuch as cocking. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided in acurved shape. Thus, a thermal conduction distance of the conductiveresistance sheet 60 is provided longer than the linear distance of eachplate member, so that the amount of thermal conduction may be furtherreduced.

A change in temperature occurs along the conductive resistance sheet 60.Therefore, in order to block heat transfer to the exterior of theconductive resistance sheet 60, a shielding part 62 may be provided atthe exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60 such that anadiabatic action occurs. In other words, in the refrigerator, the secondplate member 20 has a high temperature and the first plate member 10 hasa low temperature. In addition, thermal conduction from high temperatureto low temperature occurs in the conductive resistance sheet 60, andhence the temperature of the conductive resistance sheet 60 is suddenlychanged. Therefore, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 is opened tothe exterior thereof, heat transfer through the opened place mayseriously occur. In order to reduce heat loss, the shielding part 62 isprovided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. Forexample, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 is exposed to any oneof the low-temperature space and the high-temperature space, theconductive resistance sheet 60 does not serve as a conductive resistoras well as the exposed portion thereof, which is not preferable.

The shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous material contacting anouter surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60. The shielding part62 may be provided as an adiabatic structure, e.g., a separate gasket,which is placed at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60.The shielding part 62 may be provided as a portion of the vacuumadiabatic body, which is provided at a position facing a correspondingconductive resistance sheet 60 when the main body-side vacuum adiabaticbody is closed with respect to the door-side vacuum adiabatic body. Inorder to reduce heat loss even when the main body and the door areopened, the shielding part 62 may be preferably provided as a porousmaterial or a separate adiabatic structure.

A conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 4(b) may be preferablyapplied to the door-side vacuum adiabatic body. In FIG. 4(b), portionsdifferent from those of FIG. 4(a) are described in detail, and the samedescription is applied to portions identical to those of FIG. 4(a). Aside frame 70 is further provided at an outside of the conductiveresistance sheet 60. A part for sealing between the door and the mainbody, an exhaust port necessary for an exhaust process, a getter portfor vacuum maintenance, and the like may be placed on the side frame 70.This is because the mounting of parts is convenient in the mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body, but the mounting positions of parts arelimited in the door-side vacuum adiabatic body.

In the door-side vacuum adiabatic body, it is difficult to place theconductive resistance sheet 60 at a front end portion of the vacuumspace part, i.e., an edge side portion of the vacuum space part. This isbecause, unlike the main body, a corner edge portion of the door isexposed to the exterior. In more detail, if the conductive resistancesheet 60 is placed at the front end portion of the vacuum space part,the corner edge portion of the door is exposed to the exterior, andhence there is a disadvantage in that a separate adiabatic part shouldbe configured so as to thermally insulate the conductive resistancesheet 60.

A conductive resistance sheet proposed in FIG. 4(c) may be preferablyinstalled in the pipeline passing through the vacuum space part. In FIG.4(c), portions different from those of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are describedin detail, and the same description is applied to portions identical tothose of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). A conductive resistance sheet having thesame shape as that of FIG. 4(a), preferably, a wrinkled conductiveresistance sheet 63 may be provided at a peripheral portion of thepipeline 64. Accordingly, a heat transfer path may be lengthened, anddeformation caused by a pressure difference may be prevented. Inaddition, a separate shielding part may be provided to improve theadiabatic performance of the conductive resistance sheet.

A heat transfer path between the first and second plate members 10 and20 will be described with reference back to FIG. 4(a). Heat passingthrough the vacuum adiabatic body may be divided into surface conductionheat {circle around (1)} conducted along a surface of the vacuumadiabatic body, more specifically, the conductive resistance sheet 60,supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} conducted along thesupporting unit 30 provided inside the vacuum adiabatic body, gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} conducted through an internal gas inthe vacuum space part, and radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)}transferred through the vacuum space part.

The transfer heat may be changed depending on various depending onvarious design dimensions. For example, the supporting unit may bechanged such that the first and second plate members 10 and 20 mayendure a vacuum pressure without being deformed, the vacuum pressure maybe changed, the distance between the plate members may be changed, andthe length of the conductive resistance sheet may be changed. Thetransfer heat may be changed depending on a difference in temperaturebetween the spaces (the first and second spaces) respectively providedby the plate members. In the embodiment, a preferred configuration ofthe vacuum adiabatic body has been found by considering that its totalheat transfer amount is smaller than that of a typical adiabaticstructure formed by foaming polyurethane. In a typical refrigeratorincluding the adiabatic structure formed by foaming the polyurethane, aneffective heat transfer coefficient may be proposed as 19.6 mW/mK.

By performing a relative analysis on heat transfer amounts of the vacuumadiabatic body of the embodiment, a heat transfer amount by the gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} may become smallest. For example,the heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}may be controlled to be equal to or smaller than 4% of the total heattransfer amount. A heat transfer amount by solid conduction heat definedas a sum of the surface conduction heat {circle around (1)} and thesupporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} is largest. For example,the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat may reach 75% ofthe total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by the radiationtransfer heat {circle around (3)} is smaller than the heat transferamount by the solid conduction heat but larger than the heat transferamount of the gas conduction heat. For example, the heat transfer amountby the radiation transfer heat {circle around (3)} may occupy about 20%of the total heat transfer amount.

According to such a heat transfer distribution, effective heat transfercoefficients (eK: effective K) (W/mK) of the surface conduction heat{circle around (1)}, the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)},the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)} may have an order of Math Equation 1.eKsolid conduction heat>eKradiation transfer heat>eKgas conductionheat  [Equation 1]

Here, the effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that maybe measured using a shape and temperature differences of a targetproduct. The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value thatmay be obtained by measuring a total heat transfer amount and atemperature at least one portion at which heat is transferred. Forexample, a calorific value (W) is measured using a heating source thatmay be quantitatively measured in the refrigerator, a temperaturedistribution (K) of the door is measured using heats respectivelytransferred through a main body and an edge of the door of therefrigerator, and a path through which heat is transferred is calculatedas a conversion value (m), thereby evaluating an effective heat transfercoefficient.

The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) of the entire vacuumadiabatic body is a value given by k=QL/AΔT. Here, Q denotes a calorificvalue (W) and may be obtained using a calorific value of a heater. Adenotes a sectional area (m2) of the vacuum adiabatic body, L denotes athickness (m) of the vacuum adiabatic body, and ΔT denotes a temperaturedifference.

For the surface conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may beobtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between an entrance andan exit of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63, a sectional area(A) of the conductive resistance sheet, a length (L) of the conductiveresistance sheet, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the conductiveresistance sheet (the thermal conductivity of the conductive resistancesheet is a material property of a material and may be obtained inadvance). For the supporter conduction heat, a conductive calorificvalue may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between anentrance and an exit of the supporting unit 30, a sectional area (A) ofthe supporting unit, a length (L) of the supporting unit, and a thermalconductivity (k) of the supporting unit. Here, the thermal conductivityof the supporting unit is a material property of a material and may beobtained in advance. The sum of the gas conduction heat {circle around(3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may beobtained by subtracting the surface conduction heat and the supporterconduction heat from the heat transfer amount of the entire vacuumadiabatic body. A ratio of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)},and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may be obtained byevaluating radiation transfer heat when no gas conduction heat exists byremarkably lowering a vacuum degree of the vacuum space part 50.

When a porous material is provided inside the vacuum space part 50,porous material conduction heat {circle around (5)} may be a sum of thesupporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)}. The porous material conduction heat may bechanged depending on various variables including a kind, an amount, andthe like of the porous material.

According to an embodiment, a temperature difference ΔT1 between ageometric center formed by adjacent bars 31 and a point at which each ofthe bars 31 is located may be preferably provided to be less than 0.5°C. Also, a temperature difference ΔT2 between the geometric centerformed by the adjacent bars 31 and an edge portion of the vacuumadiabatic body may be preferably provided to be less than 0.5° C. In thesecond plate member 20, a temperature difference between an averagetemperature of the second plate and a temperature at a point at which aheat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60 or63 meets the second plate may be largest. For example, when the secondspace is a region hotter than the first space, the temperature at thepoint at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductiveresistance sheet meets the second plate member becomes lowest.Similarly, when the second space is a region colder than the firstspace, the temperature at the point at which the heat transfer pathpassing through the conductive resistance sheet meets the second platemember becomes highest.

This means that the amount of heat transferred through other pointsexcept the surface conduction heat passing through the conductiveresistance sheet should be controlled, and the entire heat transferamount satisfying the vacuum adiabatic body may be achieved only whenthe surface conduction heat occupies the largest heat transfer amount.To this end, a temperature variation of the conductive resistance sheetmay be controlled to be larger than that of the plate member.

Physical characteristics of the parts constituting the vacuum adiabaticbody will be described. In the vacuum adiabatic body, a force by vacuumpressure is applied to all of the parts. Therefore, a material having astrength (N/m2) of a certain level may be preferably used.

Under such circumferences, the plate members 10 and 20 and the sideframe 70 may be preferably made of a material having a sufficientstrength with which they are not damaged by even vacuum pressure. Forexample, when the number of bars 31 is decreased so as to limit thesupport conduction heat, deformation of the plate member occurs due tothe vacuum pressure, which may bad influence on the external appearanceof refrigerator. The radiation resistance sheet 32 may be preferablymade of a material that has a low emissivity and may be easily subjectedto thin film processing. Also, the radiation resistance sheet 32 is toensure a strength enough not to be deformed by an external impact. Thesupporting unit 30 is provided with a strength enough to support theforce by the vacuum pressure and endure an external impact, and is tohave machinability. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be preferablymade of a material that has a thin plate shape and may endure the vacuumpressure.

In an embodiment, the plate member, the side frame, and the conductiveresistance sheet may be made of stainless materials having the samestrength. The radiation resistance sheet may be made of aluminum havinga weaker strength that the stainless materials. The supporting unit maybe made of resin having a weaker strength than the aluminum.

Unlike the strength from the point of view of materials, analysis fromthe point of view of stiffness is required. The stiffness (N/m) is aproperty that would not be easily deformed. Although the same materialis used, its stiffness may be changed depending on its shape. Theconductive resistance sheets 60 or 63 may be made of a material having astrength, but the stiffness of the material is preferably low so as toincrease heat resistance and minimize radiation heat as the conductiveresistance sheet is uniformly spread without any roughness when thevacuum pressure is applied. The radiation resistance sheet 32 requires astiffness of a certain level so as not to contact another part due todeformation. Particularly, an edge portion of the radiation resistancesheet may generate conduction heat due to drooping caused by theself-load of the radiation resistance sheet. Therefore, a stiffness of acertain level is required. The supporting unit 30 requires a stiffnessenough to endure a compressive stress from the plate member and anexternal impact.

In an embodiment, the plate member and the side frame may preferablyhave the highest stiffness so as to prevent deformation caused by thevacuum pressure. The supporting unit, particularly, the bar maypreferably have the second highest stiffness. The radiation resistancesheet may preferably have a stiffness that is lower than that of thesupporting unit but higher than that of the conductive resistance sheet.Lastly, the conductive resistance sheet may be preferably made of amaterial that is easily deformed by the vacuum pressure and has thelowest stiffness.

Even when the porous material 33 is filled in the vacuum space part 50,the conductive resistance sheet may preferably have the loweststiffness, and the plate member and the side frame may preferably havethe highest stiffness.

Hereinafter, a vacuum pressure preferably determined depending on aninternal state of the vacuum adiabatic body. As already described above,a vacuum pressure is to be maintained inside the vacuum adiabatic bodyso as to reduce heat transfer. At this time, it will be easily expectedthat the vacuum pressure is preferably maintained as low as possible soas to reduce the heat transfer.

The vacuum space part may resist to heat transfer by only the supportingunit 30. Here, a porous material 33 may be filled with the supportingunit inside the vacuum space part 50 to resist to the heat transfer. Theheat transfer to the porous material may resist without applying thesupporting unit.

The case where only the supporting unit is applied will be described.

FIG. 5 illustrates graphs showing changes in adiabatic performance andchanges in gas conductivity with respect to vacuum pressures by applyinga simulation.

Referring to FIG. 5 , it may be seen that, as the vacuum pressure isdecreased, i.e., as the vacuum degree is increased, a heat load in thecase of only the main body (Graph 1) or in the case where the main bodyand the door are joined together (Graph 2) is decreased as compared withthat in the case of the typical product formed by foaming polyurethane,thereby improving the adiabatic performance. However, it may be seenthat the degree of improvement of the adiabatic performance is graduallylowered. Also, it may be seen that, as the vacuum pressure is decreased,the gas conductivity (Graph 3) is decreased. However, it may be seenthat, although the vacuum pressure is decreased, the ratio at which theadiabatic performance and the gas conductivity are improved is graduallylowered. Therefore, it is preferable that the vacuum pressure isdecreased as low as possible. However, it takes long time to obtainexcessive vacuum pressure, and much cost is consumed due to excessiveuse of a getter. In the embodiment, an optimal vacuum pressure isproposed from the above-described point of view.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used.

Referring to FIG. 6 , in order to create the vacuum space part 50 to bein the vacuum state, a gas in the vacuum space part 50 is exhausted by avacuum pump while evaporating a latent gas remaining in the parts of thevacuum space part 50 through baking. However, if the vacuum pressurereaches a certain level or more, there exists a point at which the levelof the vacuum pressure is not increased any more (ΔT1). After that, thegetter is activated by disconnecting the vacuum space part 50 from thevacuum pump and applying heat to the vacuum space part 50 (ΔT2). If thegetter is activated, the pressure in the vacuum space part 50 isdecreased for a certain period of time, but then normalized to maintaina vacuum pressure of a certain level. The vacuum pressure that maintainsthe certain level after the activation of the getter is approximately1.8×10-6 Torr.

In the embodiment, a point at which the vacuum pressure is notsubstantially decreased any more even though the gas is exhausted byoperating the vacuum pump is set to the lowest limit of the vacuumpressure used in the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby setting the minimuminternal pressure of the vacuum space part 50 to 1.8×10-6 Torr.

FIG. 7 is a graph obtained by comparing a vacuum pressure with gasconductivity.

Referring to FIG. 7 , gas conductivities with respect to vacuumpressures depending on sizes of a gap in the vacuum space part 50 arerepresented as graphs of effective heat transfer coefficients (eK).Effective heat transfer coefficients (eK) were measured when the gap inthe vacuum space part 50 has three sizes of 2.76 mm, 6.5 mm, and 12.5mm. The gap in the vacuum space part 50 is defined as follows. When theradiation resistance sheet 32 exists inside vacuum space part 50, thegap is a distance between the radiation resistance sheet 32 and theplate member adjacent thereto. When the radiation resistance sheet 32does not exist inside vacuum space part 50, the gap is a distancebetween the first and second plate members.

It was seen that, since the size of the gap is small at a pointcorresponding to a typical effective heat transfer coefficient of 0.0196W/mK, which is provided to a adiabatic material formed by foamingpolyurethane, the vacuum pressure is 2.65×10-1 Torr even when the sizeof the gap is 2.76 mm. Meanwhile, it was seen that the point at whichreduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturatedeven though the vacuum pressure is decreased is a point at which thevacuum pressure is approximately 4.5×10-3 Torr. The vacuum pressure of4.5×10-3 Torr may be defined as the point at which the reduction inadiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated. Also, whenthe effective heat transfer coefficient is 0.1 W/mK, the vacuum pressureis 1.2×10-2 Torr.

When the vacuum space part 50 is not provided with the supporting unitbut provided with the porous material, the size of the gap ranges from afew micrometers to a few hundreds of micrometers. In this case, theamount of radiation heat transfer is small due to the porous materialeven when the vacuum pressure is relatively high, i.e., when the vacuumdegree is low. Therefore, an appropriate vacuum pump is used to adjustthe vacuum pressure. The vacuum pressure appropriate to thecorresponding vacuum pump is approximately 2.0×10-4 Torr. Also, thevacuum pressure at the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effectcaused by gas conduction heat is saturated is approximately 4.7×10-2Torr. Also, the pressure where the reduction in adiabatic effect causedby gas conduction heat reaches the typical effective heat transfercoefficient of 0.0196 W/mK is 730 Torr.

When the supporting unit and the porous material are provided togetherin the vacuum space part, a vacuum pressure may be created and used,which is middle between the vacuum pressure when only the supportingunit is used and the vacuum pressure when only the porous material isused. When only the porous material is used, the lowest vacuum pressuremay be used.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an edge of the vacuumadiabatic body.

Referring to FIG. 8 , a first plate member 10, a second plate member 20,and a conductive resistance sheet 60 are provided. The conductiveresistance sheet 60 may be provided as a thin plate to resist to thermalconduction between the plate members 10 and 20. Although the conductiveresistance sheet 60 is provided as a flat plan shape as a thin plate,the conductive resistance sheet 60 may have a curved shape by beingpulled inward when vacuum is applied to the vacuum space part 50.

Since the conductive resistance sheet 60 has the thin plate shape andlow strength, the conductive resistance sheet 60 may be damaged by evenan external small impact. As a result, when the conductive resistancesheet 60 is damaged, the vacuum of the vacuum space part may be broken,and thus, performance of the vacuum adiabatic body may not be properlyexerted. To solve this limitation, a sealing frame 200 may be disposedon an outer surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60. According tothe sealing frame 200, components of the door 3 or other components maynot directly contact the conductive resistance sheet 60 but indirectlycontact the conductive resistance sheet 60 through the sealing frame 200to prevent the conductive resistance sheet 60 from being damaged. Toallow the sealing frame 200 to prevent an impact from being applied tothe conductive resistance sheet 60, the two members may be spaced apartfrom each other, and a buffer member may be interposed between the twomembers.

To reinforce the strength of the vacuum adiabatic body, a reinforcementmember may be provided on each of the plate members 10 and 20. Forexample, the reinforcement member may include a first reinforcementmember 100 coupled to an edge portion of the second plate member 10 anda second reinforcement member 110 coupled to an edge portion of thefirst plate member 10. To improve the strength of the vacuum adiabaticbody, a member having a thickness and strength greater than those of theplate member 10 may be applied to the reinforcement members 100 and 110.The first reinforcement member 100 may be provided in an internal spaceof the vacuum space part 50, and the second reinforcement member 110 maybe provided on an inner surface part of the main body 2.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may not contact the reinforcementmembers 100 and 110. This is done because thermal conductive resistancecharacteristics generated in the conductive resistance sheet 60 isdestroyed by the reinforcement members. That is to say, a width of anarrow heat bridge (heat bridge) that resists to the thermal conductionis greatly expanded by the reinforcement member, and the narrow heatbridge characteristics are destroyed.

Since the width of the internal space of the vacuum space part 50 isnarrow, the first reinforcement member 100 may be provided in a flatplate shape in cross-section. The second reinforcement member 110provided on the inner surface of the main body 2 may be provided in ashape of which a cross-section is bent.

The sealing frame 200 may include an inner surface part 230 disposed inthe internal space of the main body 2 and supported by the first platemember 10, an outer surface part 210 disposed in the external space ofthe main body 2 and supported by the second plate member 20, and a sidesurface part 220 disposed on a side surface of the edge of the vacuumadiabatic body constituting the main body 2 to cover the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and connect the inner surface part 230 to the outersurface part 210.

The sealing frame 200 may be made of a resin material that is slightlydeformable. A mounted position of the sealing frame 200 may bemaintained by an interaction between the inner surface part 230 and theouter surface part 210, i.e., by a holding action. That is to say, theset position may not be separated.

The position fixing of the sealing frame 200 will be described indetail.

First, movement of the sealing frame 200 in the extending direction (ay-axis direction in FIG. 8 ) on the plane of the plate members 10 and 20may be fixed by being supported by the inner surface part 230 by beinghooked on the second reinforcement member 110. In more detail, thesealing frame 200 may move out of the vacuum adiabatic body byinterfering with the inner surface part 230 of the second reinforcementmember 110. On the other hand, the movement of the sealing frame 200 tothe inside of the vacuum adiabatic body may be interrupted by at leastone action of first action in which the inner surface part 230 is hookedto be supported by the second reinforcement member 110 (this action mayact in both directions in addition to elastic restoring force of thesealing frame made of a resin), second action in which the side surfacepart 220 is stopped with respect to the plate member 10, and thirdaction in which the inner surface part 230 prevents the first platemember 10 from moving in the y-axis direction.

The movement of the sealing frame 200 in the vertical extensiondirection (an x-axis direction in FIG. 8 ) with respect to thecross-section of the plate members 10 and 20 may be fixed by hooking andsupporting the outer surface part 210 to the second plate member 20. Inthe auxiliary action, the movement of the sealing frame 200 in thex-axis direction may be interrupted by the action of hooking the secondreinforcement member 110 and the folding action.

The movement of the sealing frame 200 in the extension direction (az-axis direction in FIG. 8 ) may be stopped by at least one of firstaction in which the inner surface part 230 of one sealing frame 200contacts the inner surface of the other sealing frame 200 and secondaction in which the inner surface part 230 of one sealing frame 200contacts a mullion 300.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic views of the main body when viewed from thefront side. In the drawings, it should be noted that the sealing frame200 shows a virtual state in which the inner surface part 230 is spreadin a direction parallel to the side surface part 220.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , the sealing frame 200 may include members200 b and 200 e that respectively seal upper and lower edges of the mainbody 2. The side edge of the main body 2 may be divided according towhether the spaces within the refrigerator, which are divided on thebasis of the mullion 300, are separately (in FIG. 9 ) or integrally (inFIG. 10 ) sealed.

When the side edge of the main body 2 is separated as shown in FIG. 9 ,it may be divided into four sealing frames 200 a, 200 c, 200 d and 200f. When the side edge of the main body 2 is integrally sealed as shownin FIG. 10 , it may be divided into two sealing frames 200 g and 200 c.

When the side edge of the main body 2 is sealed with the two sealingframes 200 g and 200 c as shown in FIG. 10 , since two couplingoperations may be required, the manufacturing may be facilitated.However, it is necessary to cope with such a limitation because there isa risk of a loss of cold air.

In the case of sealing the side edge of the main body 2 with the foursealing frames 200 a, 200 c, 200 d and 200 f as shown in FIG. 9 , fourcoupling operations may be required, and thus, the manufacturing may beinconvenient. However, the thermal conduction may be interrupted toreduce the heat transfer between the separated storage rooms, therebyreducing the loss of the cold air.

The embodiment of the vacuum adiabatic body shown in FIG. 8 may bepreferably exemplify the vacuum adiabatic body on the main body.However, it does not exclude that it is provided to the door-side vacuumadiabatic body. Since a gasket is installed on the door 3, the sealingframe 200 may be disposed on the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body.In this case, the side surface part 220 of the sealing frame 200 mayfurther have the advantage that the gasket provides a sufficient widthfor the contact.

In more detail, since the width of the side surface part 220 is widerthan the adiabatic thickness of the vacuum adiabatic body, that is, thewidth of the vacuum adiabatic body, an adiabatic width of the gasket maybe provided at a sufficiently wide width. For example, when theadiabatic thickness of the vacuum adiabatic body is about 10 mm, thereis an advantage that the storage space of the refrigerator is enlargedby providing a large storage space in the cavity. However, there is aproblem that the gap of about 10 mm does not provide a sufficient gapfor the contact of the gasket. In this case, since the side surface part220 provides a wide gap corresponding to the contact area of the gasket,it is possible to effectively prevent the cold air from being lostthrough the contact interval between the main body 2 and the door 3.That is, when the contact width of the gasket is about 20 mm, eventhough the width of the side surface part 220 may be about 20 mm ormore, the side surface part 220 may have a width about 20 mm or more tocorresponding to the contact width of the gasket.

It may be understood that the sealing frame 200 performs the shieldingof the conductive resistance sheet and the sealing function to preventthe cold air from being lost.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a contact part in a state in whichthe main body is closed by the door.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the gasket 80 is disposed between the main body 2and the door 3. The gasket 80 may be coupled to the door 3 and providedas a member that is made of a soft deformable material. The gasket 80includes a magnet as one component. When the magnet approaches bypulling a magnetic body (i.e., a magnetic body of an edge portion of themain body), a contact surface between the main body 2 and the door 3 maybe blocked by the sealing surface having a predetermined width due tothe smooth deformation of the gasket 80.

In detail, when a gasket sealing surface 81 of the gasket contacts theside surface part 220, a sealing surface 221 of the side surface parthaving a sufficient width may be provided. The sealing surface 221 ofthe side surface part may be defined as a contact surface on the sidesurface part 220 which is in contact with the gasket sealing surface 81when the gasket 80 contacts the side surface part 220.

Thus, it is possible to secure the sealing surfaces 81 and 221 having asufficient area irrespective of the adiabatic thickness of the vacuumadiabatic body. This is because even if the adiabatic thickness of thevacuum adiabatic body is narrow, and the adiabatic thickness of thevacuum adiabatic body is narrower than the gasket sealing surface 81, ifthe width of the side surface part 220 increases, the sealing surface221 of the side surface part having the sufficient width may beobtained. In addition, the sealing surfaces 81 and 221 having thesufficient area may be ensured irrespective of the deformation of themember, which may affect the deformation of the contact surface betweenthe main body and the door. This is because it is possible to provide apredetermined clearance in and out of the side surface sealing surface221 in designing the side surface part 220 so that even if the slightdeformation occurs between the sealing surfaces 81 and 221, the widthand area may be maintained.

In the sealing frame 200, the outer surface part 210, the side surfacepart 220, and the inner surface part 230 may be provided, and their setpositions may be maintained. Briefly, the outer surface part 210 and theinner surface part 230 may be provided in a shape, i.e., a recessedgroove shape that is capable of holding end portion of the vacuumadiabatic body, more particularly, the plate members 10 and 20. Here, itmay be understood that the recessed groove has a configuration of arecessed groove as a constitution in which a width between the endportions of the outer surface part 210 and the inner surface part 230 isless than the width of the side surface part 220.

The coupling of the sealing frame 200 will be briefly described. First,the side surface part 220 and the outer surface part 210 rotate in thedirection of the second plate member 20 in a state in which the innersurface part 230 is hooked with the second reinforcement member 110.Thus, the sealing frame 200 is elastically deformed, and the outersurface part 210 may move inward along the outer surface of the secondplate member 20 to complete the coupling. When the coupling of thesealing frame is completed, the sealing frame may return to its originalshape before being deformed. When the coupling is completed, theinstallation position may be maintained as described above.

Detailed configuration and operation of the sealing frame 200 will bedescribed.

The outer surface part 210 is provided with an extension part 211 thatextends to the outside of the refrigerator (hereinafter, referred to asan outward extension part), which extends inward from an end of thesecond plate member 20 and a contact part 212 outside the refrigerator(hereinafter, referred to as an outside contact part), which contactsthe outer surface of the second plate member 20 at an end of the outsideextension part 211.

The outward extension part 211 may have a predetermined length toprevent the outer surface part 210 from being separated by external weakforce. That is to say, even though the outer surface part 210 is forcedto be pulled toward the door due to carelessness of the user, the outersurface part 210 may not be completely separated from the second platemember 20. However, if it is excessively long, there is difficulty inintentional removal at the time of repair, and it is preferable that thelength is limited to a predetermined length because the couplingoperation becomes difficult.

The outside contact portion 212 may be provided with a structure inwhich an end of the outside extension part 211 is slightly bent towardthe outer surface of the second plate member 20. Thus, the sealing dueto the contact between the outer surface part 210 and the second platemember 20 may be completed to prevent foreign substances from beingintroduced.

The side surface part 220 is bent at an angle of about 90 degrees fromthe outer surface part 210 toward the opening of the main body 2 and isprovided with a width enough to secure the sufficient width of the sidesurface sealing surface 221. The side surface part 220 may be providedthinner than the inner surface part 210 and the outer surface part 230.This is for the purpose of permitting the elastic deformation at thetime of coupling or removing the sealing frame 200 and the purpose ofnot permitting a distance to cause magnetic force between the magnetdisposed on the gasket 80 and the magnetic body on the side of the bodyso that the magnetic force is weakened. The side surface part 220 mayhave a purpose of protecting the conductive resistance sheet 60 andarranging an outer appearance as an exposed portion of the outside. Whenthe adiabatic member is provided inside the side surface part 220, theadiabatic performance of the conductive resistance sheet 60 may bereinforced.

The inner surface part 230 extends from the side surface part 220 in thedirection of the inside of the refrigerator, that is, in the rearsurface direction of the main body, at about 90 degrees. The innersurface part 230 may perform an action for fixing the sealing frame 200,an operation for installing components that is necessary for operationof a product to which the vacuum adiabatic body is installed, such as arefrigerator, and an operation for preventing an external inflow offoreign substances.

The operation corresponding to each constituent of the inner surfacepart 230 will be described.

The inner surface part 230 is provided with an extension part 231 thatextends to inside of the refrigerator (hereinafter, referred to as aninward extension part), which is bent from an inner end of the sidesurface part 220 to extend and a first member coupling part 232 bentfrom an inner end of the inward extension part 231, i.e., toward theinner surface of the first plate member 10. The first member couplingpart 232 may contact a protrusion part 112 of the second reinforcementpart 110 so as to be hooked. The inward extension part 231 may providean interval extending toward the inside of the refrigerator so that thefirst member coupling part 232 is hooked with the inside of the secondreinforcement member 110.

Since the first member coupling part 232 is hooked with the secondreinforcement member 110, the supporting operation of the sealing frame200 may be realized. The second reinforcement member 110 may furtherinclude a base part 111 coupled to the first plate member 10 and aprotrusion part 112 bent and extending from the base part 111. Aninertia of the second reinforcement member 110 may increase by astructure of the base part 111 and the protruding part 112 so thatability to resist the bending strength increases.

The first member coupling part 232 and the second member coupling part233 may be coupled to each other. The first and second member couplingparts 232 and 233 may be provided as separate members to be coupled toeach other or may be provided as a single member from the design stage.

A gap formation part 234 that further extends from the inner end of thesecond member coupling part 233 to the inside of the refrigerator may befurther provided. The gap formation part 234 may serve as a portion forproviding a space or a space in which components necessary for operationof the appliance such as the refrigerator provided with the vacuumadiabatic body are disposed.

An inclined part 235 that is inclined to the inside of the refrigerator(hereinafter, referred to as an inward inclined part) is furtherprovided. The inward inclined part 235 may be provided so as to beinclined toward the end, that is, toward the first plate member 10toward the inside of the refrigerator. The inward inclined part 235 maybe provided so that a gap between the sealing frame and the first platemember becomes smaller inward. Thus, it is possible to secure a spacefor mounting a component such as a lamp by cooperation with the gapforming portion 234 while minimizing the volume occupying the internalspace of the sealing frame 200 as much as possible.

An inside contact part 236 is disposed on an inner end of the inwardinclined part 235. The inside contact portion 236 may be provided with astructure in which an end of the inward inclined part 235 is slightlybent toward the inner surface of the second plate member 10. Thus, thesealing due to the contact between the inner surface part 230 and thesecond plate member 10 may be completed to prevent foreign substancesfrom being introduced.

When an accessory part such as a lamp is installed on the inner surfacepart 230, the inner surface part 230 may be divided into two parts toachieve the purpose of the installation convenience of the part. Forexample, the inner surface part 230 may be divided into a first memberfor providing the inward extending portion 231 and the first membercoupling part 232 and a second member providing the second membercoupling part 233, the gap formation part 234, the inward inclined part235, and inside contact part 236. In a state in which an product such asthe lamp is mounted on the second member, the first member and thesecond member may be coupled to each other in such a manner that thesecond member coupling part 233 is coupled to the first member couplingpart 232. Alternatively, it does not exclude that the inner surface part230 is provided in more various manners. For example, the inner surfacepart 230 may be provided as a single member.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact part of a mainbody and a door according to another embodiment. This embodiment ischaracteristically different in the position of the conductiveresistance sheet and accordingly the change of other portions.

Referring to FIG. 12 , in this embodiment, the conductive resistancesheet 60 may be provided inside the refrigerator, but not provided onthe edge portion of the end of the vacuum adiabatic body. The secondplate member 20 may extend over the outside of the refrigerator and theedge portion of the vacuum adiabatic body. In some cases, the secondplate member 20 may extend by a predetermined length up to the inside ofthe refrigerator. In this embodiment, It may be seen that a conductiveresistance sheet is provided at a position similar to the conductiveresistance sheet of the door-side vacuum adiabatic body shown in FIG. 4b.

In this case, the second reinforcement member 110 may move to the insideof the refrigerator without contacting the conductive resistance sheet60 in order not to affect the high thermal conductive adiabaticperformance of the conductive resistance sheet 60. This is done forachieving a function of a heat bridge of the conductive resistancesheet. Thus, the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the secondreinforcement member 110 do not contact each other so that theconductive adiabatic performance by the conductive resistance sheet andthe strength reinforcement performance of the vacuum adiabatic body bythe reinforcement member are achieved at the same time.

In this embodiment, it may be applied to the case in which perfectthermal protection and physical protection for the edge portion of thevacuum adiabatic body are required.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial cutaway perspective views illustrating thecoupling of the two members in the embodiment in which the inner surfacepart is divided into two members, wherein FIG. 13 is a state in whichthe coupling is completed, and FIG. 14 is a view illustrating thecoupling process.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 , a first member coupling part 232 ishooked with a protrusion part 112 of a second reinforcement member 110,and an outer surface part 210 is supported by a second plate member 20.Thus, a sealing frame 200 may be fixed to an edge portion of the vacuumadiabatic body.

At least one or more first member insertion parts 237 that is bent toextend to the inside of the refrigerator may be provided at end portionsof the first member coupling part 232. For example, at least one or morefirst member insertion parts 237 may be provided for each sealing frame200 installed in the refrigerator. A second member insertion recess 238may be provided in a position corresponding to the first memberinsertion part 237. The first member insertion part 237 and the secondmember insertion recess 238 may be similar in size and shape to eachother. Thus, the first member insertion part 237 may be inserted intothe second member insertion recess 238 and then be fitted and fixed.

The coupling of the first member and the second member will bedescribed. In the state in which the first member is coupled to the edgeof the vacuum adiabatic body, the second member may be aligned withrespect to the first member so that the second member insertion recess238 corresponds to the first member insertion part 237. When the firstmember insertion part 237 is inserted into the second member insertionrecess 238, the two members may be coupled to each other.

To prevent the coupled second member from being separated from the firstmember, at least a portion of the second member insertion recess 238 mayhave a size less than that of the first member insertion part 237. Thus,the two members may be forcibly fitted. To perform an action of beinghooked and supported after the second member insertion recess 238 andthe first member insertion part 237 are inserted by a predetermineddepth, a protrusion and a groove may be respectively provided on/in anypoint after the predetermined depth. Here, after the two members areinserted at a certain depth, the two members may be inserted furtherbeyond the jaws to allow the two members to be more firmly fixed. Here,the worker may feel that he/she is correctly inserted through thefeeling.

The two members constituting the inner surface part may be fixed at theposition and the coupling relation by the structure in which the twomember are inserted and coupled to each other. Alternatively, when aload is large due to the action of the second member that fixes aseparator component, the first member and the second member may becoupled to each other by a separate coupling member such as an innercoupling tool 239.

FIG. 15 is a view for sequentially explaining coupling of the sealingframe when the sealing frame is provided as two members according to anembodiment. Particularly, a case in which a component is installed onthe inner surface part will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 15(a), the sealing frame 200 is coupled to the edgeportion of the vacuum adiabatic body. Here, the coupling may beperformed by using elastic deformation of the sealing frame 200 andrestoring force due to the elastic deformation without a separate membersuch as a screw.

For example, in the state in which the inner surface part 230 is hookedwith the second reinforcement member 110, the side surface part 220 andthe outer surface part 210 rotate in the direction of the second platemember 20 by using a connection point between the inner surface part 230and the side surface part 220 as a rotation center. This action maycause elastic deformation of the side surface part 220.

Thereafter, the outer surface part 210 may move inward from the outersurface of the second plate member 20 so that the elastic force of theside surface part 220 acts on the outer surface part 210 and thuslightly coupled. When the coupling of the sealing frame is completed,the sealing frame may be seated in its original position designed in itsoriginal shape designed.

Referring to FIG. 15(b), a state in which the first member of thesealing frame 200 is completely coupled is shown. The side surface part220 may be formed with a thin thickness when compared to that of each ofthe outer surface part 210 and the inner surface part 230 so that thesealing frame 200 is coupled to the edge of the vacuum adiabatic body bythe elastic deformation and the elastic restoring action of the sealingframe.

Referring to FIG. 15(c), a component seating member 250 as a separatecomponent is provided as the second member providing the inner surfacepart 230. The component seating member 250 may be a component on whichthe component 399 is placed so that its set position is supported, andan additional function that is necessary for the operation of thecomponent 399 may be further performed. For example, in this embodiment,when the component 399 is the lamp, the gap formation part 234 made of atransparent member may be disposed on the component seating member 250.Thus, light irradiated from the lamp may pass through the inner surfacepart 230 and be irradiated into the refrigerator, and the user mayidentify the article in the refrigerator.

The component seating member 250 may have a predetermined shape that iscapable of being fitted with the component 399 to fix a position of thecomponent 399.

FIG. 15(d) illustrates a state in which the component 399 is paced onthe component seating member 250.

Referring to FIG. 15(e), the component seating member 250 on which thecomponent 399 is seated is aligned in a predetermined direction so as tobe coupled to the first member providing the inner surface part. In thisembodiment, the first member coupling part 232 and the second memberinsertion recess 238 may be aligned with each other in the extendingdirection so that the first member coupling part 232 is inserted intothe second member insertion recess 238. Alternatively, although notlimited in this way, it may be advantageously proposed to enhance theease of assembly.

To allow the first member coupling part 232 and the second memberinsertion recess 238 to be forcibly fitted with respect to each other,the first member coupling part 232 may be slightly larger than thesecond member insertion recess 238 and have a hook structure such as aprotrusion and a projection so as to realize easy insertion.

Referring to FIG. 15(f), the inner surface part in a completelyassembled state is illustrated.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views illustrating one end portion of the sealingframe, wherein FIG. 16 illustrates a state before a door hinge isinstalled, and FIG. 17 illustrates a state in which the door hinge isinstalled.

In the case of the refrigerator, a door hinge is provided at theconnection part so that the door-side vacuum adiabatic body is rotatablycoupled to the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. The door hinge hasto have predetermined strength and also be capable of preventingdrooping of the door due to its own weight in a state in which the dooris coupled and preventing the main body from being twisted.

Referring to FIG. 16 , to couple the door hinge 263, a door couplingtool 260 is provided on the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. Thedoor coupling tool 260 may be provided in three. The door coupling tool260 may be directly or indirectly fixed to the second plate member 20and/or the reinforcement members 100 and 110 and/or a separateadditional reinforcement member (for example, an additional platefurther provided on the outer surface of the second plate member). Here,the expression ‘direct’ may be referred to as a fusing method such aswelding, and the expression ‘indirect’ may refer to a coupling methodusing an auxiliary coupling tool or the like instead of the fusion orthe like.

Since the door coupling tool 260 requires high supporting strength, thedoor coupling tool 260 may be coupled to the second plate member 20. Forthis, the sealing frame 200 may be cut, and the sealing frame 200 to becut may be the upper sealing frame 200 b at an upper edge of the mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body. Also, the sealing frame 200 may includeright sealing frames 200 a, 200 f, and 200 g on a right edge of the mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body, and a lower side sealing frame 200 e ona lower edge of the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. If the doorinstallation direction is different, the left sealing frames 200 a, 200f, and 200 g at the left edge of the body-side vacuum adiabatic body maybe used.

The sealing frame 200 to be cut may have a cutoff surface 261, and thesecond plate member 20 may have a door coupling tool seating surface 262to which the door coupling tool 260 is coupled. Thus, the sealing frame220 may be cut to be exposed to the outside of the door coupling toolseating surface 262, and an additional plate member may be furtherinserted into the door coupling tool seating surface 262.

The end portion of the sealing frame 200 may not be entirely removed,but a portion of the sealing frame 200 may be removed only at a portionat which the door coupling tool 260 is provided. However, it may be morepreferable that all the end portions of the sealing frame 200 areremoved to facilitate the manufacture and to firmly support the doorhinge 263 on the side of the vacuum adiabatic body.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining an effect of the sealing frameaccording to an embodiment in comparison with the technique according tothe related art, wherein FIG. 18(a) is a cross-sectional view of thecontact part of the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body and the dooraccording to an embodiment, and FIG. 18(b) is a cross-sectional view ofthe main body and the door according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 18 , in the refrigerator, a hot line may be providedat the contact portion between the door and the main body to prevent dewformation due to sharp temperature change. As the hot line is closer tothe outer surface and the edge of the main body, the dew condensationmay be removed even with small heat capacity.

According to an embodiment, the hot line 270 may be disposed in aninternal space of a gap between the second plate member 20 and thesealing frame 200. A hot line accommodation part 271 in which the hotline 270 is disposed may be further provided in the sealing frame 200.Since the hot line 270 is placed outside the conductive resistance sheet60, an amount of heat transferred to the inside of the refrigerator issmall. Thus, the dew condensation on the main body and the door contactpart may be prevented by using smaller heat capacity. In addition, thehot line 270 may be disposed on a relative outside of the refrigerator,i.e., a bent portion between the edge of the main body and the outersurface of the main body to prevent heat from being introduced into theinternal space of the refrigerator.

In this embodiment, the side surface part 220 of the sealing frame 200may have a portion w1 that is aligned with the gasket 80 and the vacuumspace part 50 and a portion w2 that is not aligned with the vacuum spacepart 50 but aligned with the gasket 80 and the internal space of therefrigerator. This is a portion provided by the side surface part 220 toensure sufficient cold air interruption by the magnet. Thus, the sealingeffect by the gasket 80 may be sufficiently achieved by the sealingframe 200.

In this embodiment, the inward inclined part 235 is provided to beinclined toward the inner surface of the first plate member 10 at apredetermined angle β. This makes it possible to give the effect inwhich the capacity within the refrigerator increases so that the narrowspace within the refrigerator is more widely used. That is to say, likethe related art, the inward inclined part may be inclined to a directionopposite to the predetermined angle β toward the internal space of therefrigerator to widely utilize a space that is close to the door. Forexample, more foods may be accommodated in the door, and more space foraccommodating various components that are necessary for operation of thedevice may be defined.

Hereinafter, various embodiments in which the sealing frame 200 isinstalled will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 24 .

Referring to FIG. 19 , the second reinforcement member 110 may includeonly a base part 111 but do not include a protrusion part 112. In thiscase, a groove 275 may be provided in the base part 111. An end portionof the first member coupling part 232 may be inserted into the groove275. In this embodiment, it may be applied in a case of an article whichprovides sufficient strength without providing the protrusion part 112on the second reinforcement member 110.

In this embodiment, the sealing frame 200 may be coupled to the endportion of the vacuum adiabatic body by aligning the first membercoupling part 232 to be inserted into the groove 275 when the sealingframe 200 is coupled.

According to the coupling action of the groove 275 and the first membercoupling part 232, the movement of the sealing frame 200 in the y-axisdirection may be stopped through only the coupling of the inner surfacepart 230 of the sealing frame 200 and the second reinforcement part 110.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the this embodiment is different from theabove-described embodiment of FIG. 19 except that the base part 111 isfurther provided with a reinforcement base part 276. A groove 277 may befurther provided in the reinforcement base part 276 so that an endportion of the first member coupling part 232 is inserted. In thisembodiment, even though the second reinforcement member 110 is notprovided with the protrusion part 112 because of an insufficient spaceor interference with the installation space, it may be applied when itis necessary to reinforce the strength to a predetermined level. That isto say, it may be applied when the strength reinforcement of the mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body is provided at a level of strengthreinforcement which is obtained by further providing a reinforcementbase 276 at the outer end of the base part 111.

A groove 277 is provided in the reinforcement base part 276, and an endportion of the first member coupling part 232 is inserted into thegroove part 277 to align the sealing frame 200 with the vacuum adiabaticbody. Thus, the sealing frame 200 may be coupled to the end portion ofthe vacuum adiabatic body.

According to the coupling action of the groove 277 and the first membercoupling part 232, the movement of the sealing frame 200 in the y-axisdirection may be stopped through only the coupling of the inner surfacepart 230 of the sealing frame 200 and the second reinforcement part 110.

Referring to FIG. 21 , the this embodiment is different from theabove-described embodiment of FIG. 19 except that the base part 111 isfurther provided with a reinforcement protrusion 278. The end portion ofthe first member coupling part 232 may be hooked on the reinforcementprotrusion 278. In this embodiment, even though the second reinforcementmember 110 is not provided with the protrusion part 112 or thereinforcement base part 276 because of an insufficient space orinterference with the installation space, it may be applied when it isnecessary to reinforce the strength to a predetermined level and toallow the first member coupling part 232 to be hooked. That is to say,the reinforcement protrusion 278 may be further disposed on an outer endportion of the base part 111 to obtain a strength reinforcement effectof the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. Also, the reinforcementprotrusion 278 may be applied because it provides a hook action of thefirst member coupling part 232.

The first member coupling part 232 may be hooked to be supported by thereinforcement protrusion 278 so that the sealing frame 200 is coupled tothe end portion of the vacuum adiabatic body.

The embodiment proposed in FIGS. 19 to 21 illustrates a case in whichthe inner surface part 230 is not dived into the first member and thesecond member but is provided as a single product to be coupled to thevacuum adiabatic body. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto.For example, the sealing frame 200 may be divided into the two members.

Although the second reinforcement member 110 is provided in the aboveembodiment, a case in which the sealing frame 200 is coupled when aseparate reinforcement member is not provided inside the first platemember 10 will be described in the following embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 22 , although the first reinforcement member 100 isprovided to reinforce the strength of the vacuum adiabatic body, thesecond reinforcement member 110 is not provided separately. In thiscase, an inner protrusion 281 may be provided on the inner surface ofthe first plate member 10 so that the sealing frame 200 is coupled. Theinner protrusion 281 may be coupled to the first plate member 10 bywelding or fitting. This embodiment may be applied to a case in whichthe sufficient strength of the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body isobtained only by the reinforcement member provided in the firstreinforcement member 100, that is, the inside of the vacuum space part50, and the reinforcement member is installed on a side of the secondplate member 20.

The first member coupling groove 282 may be provided in the first membercoupling part 232 so as to be inserted and fixed to the inner protrusion281. The inner protrusion 281 may be inserted into the first membercoupling groove 282 so that a coupled position of the sealing frame 200is fixed.

Referring to FIG. 23 , it is characteristically different that the firstmember coupling groove 282 is not provided as compared with theembodiment shown in FIG. 22 . According to this embodiment, one end ofthe first member coupling part 232 may be supported by the innerprotrusion 281 so that the position of the sealing frame 200 issupported.

When compared to the embodiment proposed in FIG. 22 , this embodimentmay have a disadvantage in that the movement of the sealing frame 200 isstopped in only one direction, instead that the movement of the sealingframe 200 in the y-axis direction is stopped by the inner protrusion 281and the first member coupling groove 282 in both directions. However, anadvantage that the worker conveniently works when the sealing frame 200is coupled may be expected.

In the embodiment proposed in FIGS. 19 to 23 , a side of the first platemember 10 is fixed, and a side of the second plate member 20 is providedwith a constituent in which the movement such as sliding or the like isallowed. That is to say, the second plate member 20 and the outersurface part 210 are allowed to be relatively slidable, and relativemovement of the first plate member 10 and the inner surface part 230 isnot allowed. Such the constituent may be configured opposite to eachother. Hereinafter, such the constituent will be proposed.

Referring to FIG. 24 , an outer protrusion 283 may be provided on theouter surface of the second plate member 20, and an outer hook part 213may be provided on the outer surface 210 of the sealing frame 200. Theouter hook part 213 may be hooked to be supported by the outerprotrusion 283.

In case of this embodiment, the inner surface part 230 of the sealingframe 200 may be allowed to move with respect to the inner surface partof the first plate member 10 such as the sliding or the like. In thisembodiment, mounting and fixing of the sealing frame 200 are differentonly in the direction, and the same description may be applied.

Various embodiments may be further proposed in addition to theembodiment related to FIG. 24 . For example, the reinforcement member100 and 110 may be further provided on the second plate member 20, andvarious structures of FIGS. 19 to 21 may be provided for thereinforcement member. Also, the outer hook part 213 may be provided as agroove structure as shown in FIG. 22 .

According to this embodiment, there is a difference in configurationsuch that the coupling direction of the sealing frame 200 is provided inthe opposite direction of the original embodiment. However, thefundamental function of the sealing frame may be obtained in the sameway.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a constituent in whichconstitution in which components are installed in a device such as therefrigerator to which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied, and theelectric line is applied to a component.

FIG. 25 is a view observing an upper right side of the main body-sideadiabatic body when viewed from a front side.

Referring to FIG. 25 , a reinforcement member 100, more particularly, asecond reinforcement member 110 are provided together with the firstplate member 10 and the second plate member 20. The second reinforcementmember 110 is placed on the inner surface of the first plate member 10to reinforce the strength of the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body.The second reinforcement member 110 is provided in a long rod shapealong the edge of the vacuum adiabatic body to reinforce the strength ofthe vacuum adiabatic body.

A slit may be provided in the protrusion part 112 of the secondreinforcement member 110. The slits 115 and 116 serve as holes throughwhich the electric lines pass so that the operator conveniently locatesthe electric lines. Since the electric lines are disposed in the slits,damage of the electric lines due to bending of the electric lines may beprevented.

The slit may be provided with a first slit 115 provided in the secondreinforcement member 110 at the edge portion of the upper surface of thevacuum adiabatic body or a second slit 115 provided in the secondreinforcement member 11 at the edge portion of the side surface of thevacuum adiabatic body. The slit may be provided to correspond to aportion through which the electric line passes and may be disposed atanother position of the second reinforcement member 110.

In the case of the embodiment, the lamp for illuminating the inside ofthe refrigerator is exemplified as a component, and the slit may beprovided in the end portion of each edge to guide the electric line ofthe component (see reference numeral 399 in FIG. 26 ).

Since the slits 115 and 116 act as stress concentration points forweakening the strength of the reinforcement member, the slits 115 and116 may not remove the entire protrusion 112 as much as possible but beremove the protrusion up to a height at which the electric line is ledout.

Vertex portions of the slits 115 and 116 may be chamfered to providesmooth rounded-shape. Thus, the electric line passing through the slitmay be prevented from being damaged.

FIGS. 26 and 27 are cross-sectional views of the edge portion of thevacuum adiabatic body in a state in which a lamp is installed, whereinFIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a portion through which an electricline of the lamp does not pass, and FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view ofa portion through the electric line of the lamp pass. Hereinafter, thelamp will be described as a component, for example, and referred to as alamp, but it may be called a component.

Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27 , a state in which the component 399 isinstalled may be confirmed, and the lamp is placed as one component thatis necessary for the refrigerator in the gap forming part 234. Electriclines 402 and 403 of the component 399 extend outward at a gap betweenthe inner surface part 230 and the second reinforcement member 110. Indetail, the electric lines 402 and 403 may extend outward from gapsbetween the first member coupling part 232, the second member couplingpart 233, and the second reinforcement member 110.

The end portion of the second member coupling part 233 is spaced apredetermined distance from the base part 112 to provide a gap throughwhich the second member coupling part 233 pass the electric line 402.Alternatively. the second member coupling part 233 may be provided witha slit such as that provided in the protruding part 112.

Referring to FIG. 26 , the first member coupling part 232 and theprotrusion part 112 contact each other to support the sealing frame 200.Referring to FIG. 27 , the slits 115 and 116 may extend beyond the endsof the first member coupling part 232. The electric line may be led outof the protrusion part 112 through the gap between the slits 115 and 116and the end portion of the first member coupling part 232. According tothe configuration of the slits 115 and 116, the electric lines 402 and403 may be guided to the outside through the slits. Here, aninterference structure capable of damaging the electric lines 402 and403 may not be provided.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of a peripheral portion of acomponent.

Referring to FIG. 28 , a component 399, a component fixing frame 400 onwhich the component 399 is seated, and the sealing frame 200 areillustrated.

The component fixing frame 400 provides a portion of the inner surfacepart 230 of the sealing frame 200. The component fixing frame 400 hascomponents for seating the component 399.

The component fixing frame 400 may have a shape that extends in onedirection and may be a member corresponding to the second memberconstituting the inner surface part when viewed from a cross-section andmay provide the second member coupling part 233 and the gap formationpart 234, the inward inclined part 235, and the inside contact part 236.The above-described functions and actions as described above may beapplied as they are when viewed in cross-section.

In the component fixing frame 400, a second member insertion recess 238may be provided in the end portion of the first member coupling part 232at a position corresponding to the first member insertion part 237 whichis bent to extend to the inside of the refrigerator. The first memberinsertion part 237 and the second member insertion recess 238 may besimilar in size and shape to each other. Thus, the first memberinsertion part 237 may be inserted into the second member insertionrecess 238 and then be fitted and fixed. The first member insertion part237 and the second member insertion recess 238 may be coupled to eachother by an additional internal cooling tool 239. In other cases, thecomponent fixing frame 400 may be directly coupled to the secondreinforcement member 110.

The internal space of the gap formation part 234 and the inward inclinedpart 235 may form a space in which the component 399 is seated. Aseating rib 404 may be disposed on inner surfaces of the gap formationpart 234 and the inward inclined part 235. The component seating rib 404may fix the lamp seating position as a portion where both end portionsof the lamp are supported.

An electric line accommodation rib 406 may be provided outside thecomponent seating rib 404. A gap part between the component seating rib404 and the electric line accommodation rib 406 may provide an electricline accommodation part 405. The electric line accommodation part 405provides a space in which the electric line for applying power to thecomponent 399 is disposed, or a predetermined component that isnecessary for the operation of the component 399 is accommodated. Theelectric line accommodation ribs 406 and the electric line accommodationpart 405 may be provided on both sides of the component fixing frame400. Thus, inventory costs may be reduced through the commonality of thecomponents.

The electric lines 402 and 403, which are led out of the electric lineaccommodation part 405, may pass through the gap part between the upperend of the first member coupling part 233 and the base part 111. Theelectric lines 402 and 403 may pass through the slits 115 and 116 andled into the gap part between the side surface part 220 of the sealingframe 200 and the protrusion part 112 and then be guided to other placesalong the gap part.

An inclined rib 407 may be disposed on both end portions of thecomponent fixing frame 400. The inclined rib 407 are provided so as tobe widened backward from a front end portion of the component fixingframe 400. In the drawings, when referring to an indication lineextending along the electric line along the electric line accommodationrib 406 and an indication line extending along an end of the inclinedrib 407, it will be more clearly understood when referring to an angle γbetween the indication lines.

The inclined rib 407 is configured so that the component fixing frame400 contacts the inner surface part 230 of the sealing frame 200adjacent to the component fixing frame 400 to remove a gap between themembers. Thus, in the case of a refrigerator, it is possible to providea wider internal space within the refrigerator. For example, the sealingframe 200 adjacent to the component fixing frame 400 may accuratelycontact corresponding to an inclined angle of the inward inclined part235 provided as the reference symbol β in FIG. 18 .

FIGS. 29 and 30 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A′ and B-B′in FIG. 28 and are shown in time sequence. The coupling between thesealing frame and the component fixing frame may be understood withreference to FIG. 29 , and the alignment of the sealing frame and thecomponent fixing frame may be understood with reference to FIG. 30 .

Referring to FIGS. 29 and 30 , when the component 399 is placed on thecomponent fixing frame 400, and the component is the lamp on the lowerside of the component 399, the gap formation part 234 may be provided asa transparent member to emit light. Thus, light irradiated from the lampmay pass through the inner surface part 230 and be irradiated into therefrigerator, and the user may identify the article in the refrigerator.

The component fixing frame 400 on which the component 399 is seated isaligned in a predetermined direction so as to be coupled to the sealingframe 200. In this embodiment, the first member insertion part 237 andthe second member insertion recess 238 may be aligned with each other inthe extending direction of each of the members so that the first memberinsertion part 237 is inserted into the second member insertion recess238.

To allow the first member insertion part 237 and the second memberinsertion recess 238 to be forcibly fitted with respect to each other,the first member insertion part 237 may be slightly larger than thesecond member insertion recess 238 and have a hook structure such as aprotrusion and a projection so as to realize easy insertion.

Hereinafter, a path of the electric line led out to the outside of theprotrusion part 112 of the second reinforcement member 110 through theslits 115 and 116 will be described.

FIG. 31 is a view observing a portion of an upper portion of therefrigerator when viewed from a front side, and FIG. 32 is a schematicview illustrating a top surface of the refrigerator when viewed from theoutside.

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32 , the electric lines 402 and 403 led outthrough the slit 115 may move in any direction along the gap between theprotrusion pat 112 and the side surface part 220 of the sealing frame200.

The sealing frame 200 is a member to be observed on the outside and hasa gap without contacting internal components so as to have an elegantouter appearance. The sealing frame 200 may do not contact theconductive resistance sheet 60 to prevent cold air from being lost dueto the contact with the conductive resistance sheet 60. Thus, theelectric lines 402 and 403 may move through the gap between the sealingframe 200 and the internal component. The electric lines 402 and 403 maymove through the gap between an outer surface of the protrusion part 112and the side surface part 220 of the sealing frame 200 to prevent thecold air from being lost due to the contact between the conductiveresistance sheet and the electric lines 402 and 403.

A main controller 450 is disposed on a top surface of the refrigerator.The main controller 450 is a portion on which electrical componentsincluding a processor for controlling the overall operation of therefrigerator are mounted. Since the main controller 450 is placed on thetop surface of the refrigerator, it is convenient to easily perform theafter-service without moving the position of the refrigerator.

The component 399 is a member operating under the control of the maincontroller 450. The electric line may extend toward the main controlleralong any one edge through the gap between the outer surface of theprotrusion part 112 and the side surface part 220 of the sealing frame200. The electric line may be led to the main controller 450 aftermoving to the rectilinear forward of the main controller 450. In detail,the electric line passes through the gap between the outer surface part210 and the second plate member 20 after passing through the gap betweenthe side surface part 220 of the sealing frame 200 and the conductiveresistance sheet 60 to reach the main controller 450.

The electric lines 402 and 403 may be exemplified by a lead-in line anda lead-out line for power, and a connector may be mounted in advance atan end portion thereof. The worker may complete the assembly byinserting the connector of the main controller 450 into a socket.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an upper end portion ofthe refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 33 , it may be seen that the electric lines 402 and403 pass the gap between the second reinforcement member 110 and thesealing frame 200. Here, the electric lines 402 and 403 may approach thesecond reinforcement member 110. This is because an adiabatic material470 is inserted in the gap between the conductive resistance sheet 60and the sealing frame 200 and the gap between the second reinforcementmember 110 and the sealing frame 200 in the coupling process.

The adiabatic material 407 is provided to prevent the cold air loss ofthe conductive resistance sheet 60 and to prevent the cold air frombeing lost outside the second reinforcement member 110. The originalshape of the sealing frame 200 may be maintained by the adiabaticmaterial 407, and the installation positions of the electric lines 402and 403 may be fixed.

Hereinafter, the electric line connecting the inside and the outside ofthe refrigerator, the operation of the electric line and the control ofthe refrigerator by the electric line will be described.

FIG. 34 is a view for explaining a control of the refrigerator. In FIG.34 , a dotted line indicates a line separating the inside and theoutside of the refrigerator, and the inside of the rectangle provided bythe dotted line indicates the inside of the refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 34 , a main controller 450 is disposed outside therefrigerator. The main controller 450 is responsible for the overallcontrol of the appliance to which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied.When the appliance is a refrigerator, the main controller 450 performsoverall control of the refrigerator. The main controller 450 may beplaced on a top surface of the refrigerator as shown in FIG. 32 .Hereinafter, the refrigerator will be described as an example, but it isneedless to say that it is not limited to the refrigerator.

In the main controller 450, six lines may be led into the refrigerator.Two AC lines 515 and 516 of the six lines supply energy to a heatgeneration part 601 in which AC power is used. Two DC lines 513 and 514of the six lines are lines for supplying energy to various drivers 600and an auxiliary controller 500 in which DC power is used in therefrigerator. Two signal lines 511 and 512 of the six lines are linesfor supplying a control signal to the various drivers 600 and theauxiliary controller 500, which perform the control in the refrigerator.

The auxiliary controller 500 and the main controller 450 are connectedby a connection line. The connection line may include the two DC lines513 and 514 and the two signal lines 511 and 512.

The main controller 450 may be called a first controller, which isplaced outside the refrigerator, and the auxiliary controller 500 may bea controller that is placed inside the refrigerator to partially receivethe control of the first controller to operate and thus be called asecond controller.

Current supplied by direct current (DC) lines 513 and 514 may bedirectly applied to the components of the driver and the driving of theauxiliary controller and be provided in the energy supply form in whichan additional rectifier or a transformer is not required. Thus, in thiscase, since the number of heat generation devices such as the rectifieror the transformer is reduced, energy consumption efficiency of therefrigerator may be improved.

The main controller 450 and the auxiliary controller 500 may beconnected to each other through a process in which control signals ofthe signal lines 511 and 512 are digitally processed through signaltransmitting/receiving unit 501.

Each of the AC lines 515 and 516, the DC lines 513 and 514, and thesignal lines 511 and 512 may be provided as two lines for a smoothcurrent flow. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. Forexample, the lines may be provided as a single line or three or morelines within the scope understood by the technical ideas. For example,the signal lines 511 and 512 may be applied to a single line in somecases for time division and other ways for the reception andtransmission. However, in order to apply commercial serialcommunication, two lines may be applied. The AC line and the DC line maysupply three-phase energy.

The AC lines 515 and 516 are provided for driving the heat generationpart 601 irrespective of the number of lines, the DC lines 515 and 516for direct use to the driver 600 and the auxiliary controller areprovided, and signal lines 511 and 512 for transmitting and receivingcontrol signals to the driver 600 and the auxiliary controller 500 maybe provided.

As the most general and universal application is preferable, the twolines may be provided for each of the AC line, the DC line, and thesignal line. Thus, six lines may be inserted into the refrigerator fromthe main controller 450 within the refrigerator.

It may be seen that the number of lines 511 to 516 is drasticallyreduced compared to the case in about 40 lines are conventionallyintroduced into the refrigerator. In this case, there is an advantagethat a size of the through-part passing through the vacuum adiabaticbody is reduced, and the number of through-parts is reduced. Thus, theenergy consumption efficiency of the refrigerator may be improved, andthe adiabatic efficiency of the vacuum adiabatic body may be improved.

Here, since all of the six lines are led in the refrigerator through thesingle pipeline 64, it is advantageous that the adiabatic efficiency isimproved, and the manufacturing convenience is further improved.

The six lines may be guided into the refrigerator through a path throughwhich the electric lines 402 and 403 pass, as shown in FIG. 27 and thelike. In detail, the six lines may be guided into the refrigeratorthrough the gap between the vacuum adiabatic body and the sealing frame200.

In this case, the two DC lines 513 and 514 and the two signal lines 511and 512 provided as the connection lines for connecting the maincontroller and the auxiliary controller may be divided into three casesin terms of geometric position. Particularly, the lines may be dividedinto a first connection line disposed in a first space, a secondconnection line disposed in a second space, and a third connection linepassing from the first space to the second space.

Here, in the case of the third connection line, in order to electricallyconnect the first space to the second space without passing through thevacuum adiabatic body, the third connection line may be disposed to passthrough the gap between the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body and thedoor, i.e., pass between the third space and the door. For example, apath shown in FIG. 27 may be exemplified.

Here, since all of the six lines are led in the refrigerator through thesingle path, it is advantageous that the adiabatic efficiency isimproved, and the manufacturing convenience is further improved.

Alternatively, the six lines may be guided through the pipeline 64 shownin FIG. 2 into the refrigerator. Of course, this embodiment is notlimited to these two methods, various other methods may be furtherincluded.

Among the six lines, the AC line and the DC line occupying four linesmay be power lines.

FIG. 35 is a view for explaining an overall control of the refrigeratorin detail together with the six lines.

In FIG. 35 , it may be roughly divided into an outer space of therefrigerator at a left side and an inner space at a right side withrespect to a one-dot chain line. The main controller 450 is disposedoutside the refrigerator, and the auxiliary controller 500 is disposedinside the refrigerator. The main controller 450 may control the entireoperation of the refrigerator, and the auxiliary controller 500 maycontrol various devices such as a load and a sensor in the refrigerator.

As described above, the two AC lines 515 and 516, the two DC lines 513and 514, and the two signal lines 511 and 512 may be provided from theoutside to the inside of the refrigerator, through the vacuum adiabaticbody, or led into the refrigerator by turning around the outside of thevacuum adiabatic body.

The power connection shown by a bold arrow will be mainly described.

The power supplied from the outside of the power controller 700 may becontrolled and supplied in a form that is necessary for the operation ofthe refrigerator. AC power output from a power supply unit 700 iscontrolled by a first analog switch 710 and may be supplied to a heatgeneration part 601 through the AC lines 515 and 516. The heatgeneration part 601 may include a defrosting heater 611. The firstanalog switch 710 may be controlled by the main controller 450. Thefirst analog switch 710 may be a relay switch to which a solenoid isapplied. The first analog switch 710 is a device for interrupting alarge amount of electricity in an analog manner, and it is preferablethat the first analog switch 710 is located outside the refrigerator asshown in the drawings because a large amount of heat is generated.

The power supplied from the power control unit 700 may be converted toDC in an AC-DC converter 701 and supplied to the main controller 450.The DC power is rectified by a DC rectifier 702 and supplied to the maincontroller 450. The DC power rectified by the DC rectifier 702 issupplied to a place, at which the DC power is required, under thecontrol of the main controller 450. The AC-DC converter 701 and the DCrectifier 702 may be disposed outside the refrigerator as the heatgeneration components in which the switching operation is repeated. Themain controller 450 controls the power supplied from the outside of therefrigerator as a whole.

The power supplied from the DC rectifier 702 may be controlled by thefirst digital switch 730 and supplied to an external load 731 outsidethe refrigerator. The external load 731 may correspond to a user displayand various other control devices.

The main controller 450 may supply the DC power to a compressorcontroller 41. The compressor controller 41 may generate AC power usingthe DC-AC inverter 703 and a second analog switch 720 and operate thecompressor 4 using a switching action of the compressor 4. The secondanalog switch 720 may be similar in operation to the first analog switch710. This is because a large amount of energy is supplied to thecompressor 4 and the heat generation part 601.

The DC-AC inverter 703 and the second analog switch 720 may be disposedoutside the refrigerator as heat generation components that involve aswitching operation and a physical operation.

The DC power supplied from the DC rectifier 702 is supplied to theauxiliary controller 500 through the DC lines 513 and 514. The auxiliarycontroller 500 may supply the DC power to the internal load 610 withinthe refrigerator in the state of being controlled using the seconddigital switch 740. Since the digital switches 730 and 740 operate in adigital manner using software using a chip, little heat is generated.Thus, the second digital switch 740 may not be a factor for lowering theadiabatic effect even if it is placed in refrigerator.

The defrosting heater 611 constituting a portion of the heat generatingpart 601 among the internal loads 610 may be supplied with energythrough the AC lines 515 and 516 as components requiring high energy asdescribed above.

It focuses on signal connection provided by a thin line.

The main controller 450 may control the power supplied to the externalload 731 using the first digital switch 730.

The main controller 450 may be connected to the auxiliary controller 500by the signal lines 511 and 512 so that a sensing signal and a controlsignal are transmitted and received between the main controller 450 andthe auxiliary controller 500. Here, since a separate pre-definedsignaling scheme is performed between the two controllers, limitationssuch as crosstalk or transmission failure may not occur.

The main controller 450 may receive the signal from the external sensor732 to utilize the signal as information that is necessary for operationof the refrigerator.

The main controller 450 may adjust an operation frequency of thecompressor by using the compressor controller 41 according to a loadstatus of the refrigerator and the user's request status. For this, themain controller 450 may transmit a control signal to the compressorcontroller 41 and the compressor controller 41 to not only adjust thefrequency by using the DC-AC inverter but also interrupt a drivingsignal by using the second analog switch 720.

The control signal transmitted from the main controller 450 to the subcontroller 500 may be used as an operation control of the internal load610 by the auxiliary controller 500 controlling the second digitalswitch 740.

The second digital switch 740 may control a plurality of loads andcontrol an independent single load. The second digital switch 740 isillustrated as one in the drawing, but a plurality of second digitalswitches may be provided for each load.

The auxiliary controller 500 may receive various information measured bythe internal sensor 620, perform an operation through determination initself, and transmit the information to the main controller 450 whenhelp of the main controller 450 is required.

The internal load 610 may include a number of components necessary foroperation of the refrigerator. For example, the internal load 610 mayinclude components such as an internal lighting 612, a display 613, afan 614 within the refrigerator, and a flow damper 615.

The internal sensor 620 may include a number of configurations fordetermining the control status of the refrigerator. For example, theinternal sensor 620 may include a refrigerating compartment temperaturesensor 621, a freezing compartment temperature sensor 622, and adefrosting sensor 623

As illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35 , according to the embodiment, thenumber of electric lines connecting the inside and the outside of therefrigerator may be optimized as the AC line, the DC line, and thesignal line so as to reduce the size of the through-part and the numberof through-parts of the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby leading to anstable operation of the refrigerator.

A rectifier, a switching member, or the like, which generates heat atthe time of operation of the refrigerator, is located outside therefrigerator to remove the heat source in the refrigerator. Therefore,energy consumption efficiency of the refrigerator may be improved.

The lines required for the control of the refrigerator may be connectedto each other by direct connection between the main controller 450 andthe auxiliary controller 500. The auxiliary controller 500, the load,and the sensor may also be directly connected. Thus, stability of signaltransmission/reception between the controllers or between the controllerand the load may be secured so that the refrigerator operates stably.

A commercial load and a sensor using a DC power source as a drivingsource or a DC signal as a control signal may be applied as it is to therefrigerator to which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied. Therefore,manufacturing cost of the refrigerator to which the vacuum adiabaticbody is applied may be reduced.

FIG. 36 is a view illustrating installed positions of the maincontroller and the auxiliary controller. In this case, the refrigeratormay be suitably applied in the case of using the vacuum adiabatic body.

Referring to FIG. 36 , the main controller 450 may be disposed outsidethe refrigerator. The main controller 450 may be disposed outside thetop surface of the refrigerator. The power controller 700 or the likemay be provided at a position at which the main controller 450 isintegrally or adjacent to or spaced apart from the main controller 450.

The auxiliary controller 500 may be disposed on a mullion 300 of therefrigerator. As described above, the mullion 300 may be a member foradiabatically dividing the refrigerating compartment and the freezingcompartment and may be made of a predetermined adiabatic material.

The auxiliary controller 500 may maintain a state of being insulatedfrom the inside of the refrigerator in the mullion 300 so that the heatgenerated during the operation of the auxiliary controller 500 does notaffect the inside of the refrigerator.

The paths of the lines 511 to 516 connected to the auxiliary controller500 in the main controller 450 will be briefly described.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 27 , the line may be guided through a paththrough which the electric lines 402 and 403 pass. In detail, the linemay connect the inside and the outside of the refrigerator through thegap between the vacuum adiabatic body and the sealing frame 200. In thiscase, although two electric lines 402 and 403 are illustrated, six lines511 to 516 may be guided through the path described in detail.

Alternatively, the line may be guided through the pipeline 64 shown inFIG. 2 . In detail, the line passes through the pipeline 64 passingthrough the vacuum adiabatic body to connect the inside and the outsideof the refrigerator.

This manner in which the lines 511 to 516 are guided through the gapbetween the vacuum adiabatic body and the sealing frame 200 has beendescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. The connectionrelationship between the main controller 450 and the auxiliarycontroller 500 when the pipeline 64 is provided will be described.

FIG. 37 is a view for explaining connection between the main controllerand the auxiliary controller when the pipeline is used.

Referring to FIG. 37 , a first pipeline 641 is provided in the vacuumadiabatic body of the main body 2. The first pipeline 641 may be amember passing through the inside and the outside of the vacuumadiabatic body and be disposed inside the wrinkled conductive resistancesheet 63. In some cases, the pipeline 64 may not be provided, and thewrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63 may serve as the pipeline 64.However, a separate member, which is exemplified by the adiabaticmaterial, may be applied to the pipeline 64 in terms of heat transferreduction.

Six lines 511 to 516 may pass through the first pipeline 641, and theline may connect the main controller 450 to the auxiliary controller500. The line passing through the first pipeline 641 and extending intothe refrigerator may extend into the inside of the mullion 300 along theinner wall of the vacuum adiabatic body and may be connected to theauxiliary controller 500.

The auxiliary controller 500 may be connected to a plurality of loadsand sensors in the refrigerator to control the operation of therefrigerator. Here, the line may extend along the inner surface of thevacuum adiabatic body.

It is preferable that the auxiliary controller 500 is disposed in themullion 300 to increase the internal space of the refrigerator, toreduce the influence of heat generation, and to maintain a ratedtemperature for the normal operation of the controller. However, whenthere is restriction on the installation of the mullion, the auxiliarycontroller 500 may be positioned in another separate space in therefrigerator, and the mullion 300 may perform only the role of allowingthe line to pass therethrough.

A second pipeline 643 may be provided on either side of the vacuumadiabatic body adjacent to the machine room 8. The second pipeline 643may be used as a pipeline through which the defrosting water is removedto the outside of the refrigerator.

FIGS. 38 to 40 are views for comparing and explaining a configuration ofcontrol of the refrigerator, wherein FIG. 38 is a view of a case inwhich a plurality of lines, e.g., about 40 lines are inserted into therefrigerator in the main controller according to the related art, FIG.39 is a view of a case in which six lines pass through the pipeline, andFIG. 40 is a view of a case in which the six lines pass through a gappart between the sealing frame and an outer surface of the main body.

First, referring to FIG. 38 , although the drawing shows the provisionof ten or more lines, this is due to the difficulty of the illustration,and in practice much more lines have to pass through the vacuumadiabatic body. To allow many electric lines to pass through thepipeline 64, the size of the pipeline 64 has to increase, or the numberof pipelines 64 has to increase. This is undesirable because it causesdeterioration of the adiabatic loss, restriction of refrigerator design,and installation difficulty. Alternatively, even if the gap between thesealing frame 300 and the vacuum adiabatic body is used, it is necessaryto provide a wider gap than the sealing frame 300, which results indifficulty in realization of the adiabatic effect. Thus, it is notpreferable.

According to the embodiment for solving such a limitation, as describedin detail above, it is proposed that only the six lines connect theinside and outside of the refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 39 , the six lines 511 to 516 pass through thepipeline 64. Thus, it is not necessary to enlarge the pipeline 64, andthere is no need to increase the number of pipelines. Thus, theadiabatic loss may be reduced, and the design constraint may beeliminated.

Referring to FIG. 40 , it is seen that the six lines 511 to 516 passthrough the gap between the sealing frame 64 and the outer surface ofthe main body 2 and are guided into the refrigerator. Thus, it is notnecessary to enlarge the gap part, and the six lines 511 to 516 may beprovided similarly to the case where the number of electric linesincreases by directly using the path in which the electric lines 402 and403 are provided.

In this case, since the AC lines 515 and 516 connecting the heatgeneration part 601 are physically large in diameter, and the otherlines use a small line, the structure using the electric lines 402 and403 may be sufficiently utilized.

When the present disclosure is applied, it may be possible to preventthe deterioration in the adiabatic performance of the refrigerator andto facilitate the product design while performing the stable control ofthe refrigerator to which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied. As aresult, the commercialization of the refrigerator to which the vacuumadiabatic body is applied may be promoted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vacuum adiabatic body comprising: a firstplate; a second plate; a vacuum space provided between the first plateand the second plate; a seal configured to seal the first plate and thesecond plate so as to provide the vacuum space: electric linesconfigured to electrically connect a first space adjacent to the firstplate and a second space adjacent to the second plate; and a sealingframe provided in at least an edge of the first plate or an edge of thesecond plate and configured to shield ends of first and second plates,wherein the electric lines pass through a single path through the vacuumspace, the single path being formed at a gap between the seal and thesealing frame such that the electric lines pass towards the second spacefrom the first space via the gap.
 2. The vacuum adiabatic body accordingto claim 1, wherein the electric lines include: an alternating current(AC) line through which an alternating current flow; a direct current(DC) line through which direct current flows; and a signal line throughwhich a control signal flows.
 3. A refrigerator comprising: a wallprovided between a first space configured to store items and a secondspace, the wall having a first plate and a second plate facing eachother to create a third space therebetween, the third space beingconfigured to be in a vacuum state; a door configured to allow access tothe first space; a first controller provided in the first space andelectrically connected a first electric device in the first space; asecond controller provided in the second space and electricallyconnected a second electric device in the second space; a first lineconnecting the first controller and the second controller; and a secondline connected to the second controller and configured to supply currentto a component provided in the first space, wherein at least a portionof the first line and at least a portion of the second line pass througha single path formed at at least one of: a gap between the third spaceand the door, or a pipeline extending through the first plate and thesecond plate.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the gapis provided between the third space and a sealing frame, the sealingframe being provided at edges of the first plate and the second plate.5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the second controllercontrols the component including a heater, the refrigerator comprises ananalog switch configured to connect a power supply to the heater, andthe analog switch is provided in the second space.
 6. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 3, wherein the first line comprises three or morelines.
 7. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the secondelectric device include at least one of a power supply unit, a firstanalog switch, a first digital switch, a second analog switch, an AC-DCconverter, a DC rectifier, an external load, a compressor controller, oran external sensor.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein:the second controller is a main controller, and the first controller isan auxiliary controller that operates under control of the maincontroller, and the first line comprises: a direct current (DC) linethrough which the main controller supplies power to the auxiliarycontroller; and a signal line through which the main controller controlsthe auxiliary controller via a control signal.
 9. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 8, wherein the second line comprises an alternatingcurrent (AC) line configured to supply AC power to a component in thefirst space, wherein the AC line passes through a same path as theconnection line.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein thefirst line comprises: a first connection line provided in the firstspace; a second connection line provided in the second space; and athird connection line electrically connecting the first connection lineand the second connection line, wherein the third connection line passesthrough the at least one of the gap between the third space and thedoor, or the pipeline extending through the first plate and the secondplate.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the thirdconnection line includes a plurality of third connection lines that passthrough the single path.
 12. The refrigerator according to claim 10,comprising an adiabatic material inside the first space, wherein atleast one of the first controller and a portion of the first line arepositioned in the adiabatic material.
 13. The refrigerator according toclaim 12, wherein the adiabatic material is included in a partition walldividing the first space into at least two spaces having differenttarget temperatures.
 14. The refrigerator according to claim 12, whereinthe first controller is positioned inside the adiabatic material. 15.The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the second controller isdisposed at a top surface of the refrigerator.
 16. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 3, wherein the refrigerator includes five or sixwirings, including the first line, connecting the first space and thesecond space.
 17. A refrigerator comprising: a wall provided between afirst space configured to store items and a second space, the wallhaving a first plate and a second plate facing each other to create athird space therebetween, the third space being configured to be in avacuum state; a partition wall provided in the first space and dividingthe first space into at least two spaces having different targettemperatures, the partition w % all including an adiabatic material: adoor configured to allow access to the first space; and a firstcontroller provided in the first space and electrically connected to afirst electric device provided in the first space, wherein the firstcontroller is positioned in the adiabatic material to prevent heatgenerated from the first controller from being transferred to the atleast two spaces.
 18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, whereinthe first controller is connected to at least two components within thefirst space by a digital switch including a chip generating little heat.